Stretcher.



F. KESTH.

RETCHER.

APPLscATlQN man mms, 1an.

Patente Aug. 27, 1918.

STAWNT OFFICE.

FRED A. KEITH, OF SOUTH POLAND, MAINE.

STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters atent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

Application filed May 5, 1917. Serial No. 166,632.

folded when-not in use thereby takingup al minimum amount of space.

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision `of a stretcher of the character mentioned that is simple in construction and that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the stretcher will be brought out more in detail in the description to follow, which, for a clear understanding of the invention, should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed, for the purpose of illustration, convenient and satisfactory embodiments of the invention. It is to be noted, in this connection, that minor changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the principle of operation of the various parts.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the lineY 2-2 of Fig. 1, and n Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the connecting means for the stretcher comprising my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, the supporting frame of my invention comprises a pair of sections detachably associated. Each of the sections includes a pair of tubular members 1 and 2. The tubular members are provided with apertures therein adjacent the ends for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Projections comprising tubular lugs designated 3 are rigidly secured within the ends of one section of the tubular members, the ends 4- thereof projecting outwardly and adapted to bedetachably engaged in the free ends of the tubular members of the other section.

The tubular members of each section are hingedly connected by means of arms 5 and 6 by the pin 7. The free ends of the rod members are reduced as at 8 and 9 and are adapted to be seated in apertures provided in the tubular members and rigidly secured therein. The said arms are adapted to fold downwardly but as more clearly shown in Fig. 1 the construction thereof limits the upward movement after the tubular members have both reached the same plane.

The supporting means of my invention comprises a sheet or canvas member 10 adapted to be folded over the tubular sections and retained in the desired position by pins or other suitable fastening means. By this construction it is obvious that by having the fastening means associated with the sheet or canvas near the ends thereof the patient may be deposited on a bed and the sections released without removing him from the supporting or carrying element and thus avoiding any unnecessary moving of the patient.

It is of course obvious that my invention is particularly adapted for use in the army where a light but durable stretcher is desired that may befolded thereby taking up a minimum amount of space when shipping.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claiml as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a device of the character described the combination of a pair of sections detachably associated, each section comprising a pair of longitudinally extending tubular members havingv apertures therein, the aperturesV beingdiametrically opposite, a pair of arms hingedly connected, the free ends of the arms being reduced and adapted to engage in said openings to retain the tubular mem-` bers in the same plane or to be-folded, and a supporting means associated with saidv sections for a purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature l hereto.

FRED A.V KEITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the,commissioner of latents,

. Washingtomn. i Y 

